Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode Summary: 49ers at Rams Reaction + Flex Options Deep Dive

Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Matthew Berry (in Tuscaloosa), with Connor Rogers, Jay Croucher, and Dr. Denny Carter

Overview

This episode blends sharp game recaps (49ers at Rams), engaging fantasy football advice—especially regarding flex plays—and signature show banter. The crew celebrates Kendrick Bourne’s big game, debates streamable quarterbacks (including Matthew Stafford, Mac Jones), covers crucial injury updates, and dives deep into waiver wire and Week 5 lineup strategy. Listener questions and the always-entertaining "Flexual Frustrations" segment round out a packed show.

Game Recap & Fantasy Takeaways

49ers at Rams — Thursday Night Football

(04:07–12:25)

• Kendrick Bourne’s Emergence

  • Kendrick Bourne: 10 catches, 142 yards. Huge chemistry with Mac Jones, reminiscent of their New England days.
  • Jay Croucher: “Kendrick Bourne… completely unmatched. But now look, this was Kyle Shanahan’s masterpiece. Right? That’s no business winning this game.” (05:11)
  • Scheme praise: Shanahan maximized backups, putting Bourne everywhere to keep the offense moving, despite a banged-up receiver group.

• Mac Jones in a Shanahan Offense

  • Looked “confident, decisive,” per Connor Rogers (08:03). Dropped back 49 times, took only 1 sack, playing through pain.
  • Jay: “He is going to be a guy I think who when he’s starting is going to put up 250 plus passing yards… a very viable QB2.” (09:10)

• Christian McCaffrey: Usage Note

  • On a receiving tear (on pace for 1,300 yards), but run game efficiency has vanished: “Five games in a row where Christian McCaffrey has not even sniffed efficiency on the ground…” (08:43)

• QB Controversy?

  • Matthew Berry: “Should they have given Brock Purdy…40 million a year? Mac Jones performance isn’t helping counter that argument [he’s] a system QB.” (09:54)
  • Jay: “Purdy will be the starter…he will come back and he’ll be the starting job because they paid him a quarter of a billion dollars.” (12:02)

Fantasy Impact

• Kendrick Bourne only relevant if Niners’ WR injuries linger.
• Mac Jones a viable streamer as long as Purdy is out, especially during bye weeks.

Rams Notes: Is Matthew Stafford a Default Starter Now?

(12:32–20:29)

• Stafford: Heating Up

  • Back-to-back games with 25+ points for the first time since 2021. Four straight games with 2+ TDs. QB11 on the year so far.
  • Berry: “He is a must-start in two quarterback leagues and…one quarterback league viable depending on your other options and the matchups.” (16:46)

• Caveats

  • Doesn’t run—needs big passing volume.
  • Weapons matter: “As long as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are healthy…Stafford just looks dialed in.” (14:53)

• Start/Sit Advice

  • Prefer Jared Goff “for the floor.” Daniel Jones offers more upside with rushing ability.
  • If holding Stafford, Goff, and Danny Dimes: play matchups, try to trade for value.

Injury & Waiver Wire Roundup

(20:29–36:32)

• Week 5 Injury Headlines

  • Chuba Hubbard (calf): Out. Rico Dowdle becomes a locked-in RB2, a top-15 play, and this week’s must-add (76% available).
    • Berry: “I’d make him a top 15 running back…He may not be the most efficient, but he’s going to get all the work…” (21:53)
  • Lamar Jackson (hamstring): Almost certainly out, possibly multi-week issue.
    • Jay: “This line moved by the way from Ravens -9½ to Texans -2½. So if you wonder how valuable Lamar Jackson is, he swung a line almost two touchdowns basically by himself.” (29:46)
    • Passing game downgrade—only high-volume RB Derrick Henry is safe to start; Justice Hill deeper-league viable.
  • Michael Pittman (hamstring): Practicing, likely to play. Alec Pierce (concussion): Uncertain.
  • Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel: Both ruled out.
    • Berry: Luke McCaffrey desperation play with Deebo out, but doesn’t love any SF backup WRs.
  • Brock Bowers (knee): Banged up but likely to play. Berry: “Half of Brock Bowers is still likely better than any options you have on the waiver wire.” (31:53)
  • Joe Mixon: Not expected to return at all; Woody Marks becomes the Bengals’ backfield leader.

• Waiver Wire Priorities

  • Rico Dowdle: Top add.
  • Malik Washington: “An important grab and stash.”
  • Elijah Manor, Troy Franklin, Trey Tucker, Darius Slayton: Viable under-the-radar WRs.
  • Berry hot take: Sean Tucker could outscore Rashad White, calling a possible “changing of the guard” in Tampa Bay (34:00)

Flex Debates & Start/Sit Mailbag

Rico Dowdle vs. Emeka Egbuka
(25:14–27:30)

• Berry: Prefers Egbuka, bets on talent: “I just can’t imagine me clicking bench on Egbuka. I just sort of bet on talent.” (25:31)
• Jay: Dowdle’s workload makes him appealing, especially given Miami’s poor run D.
• Connor: Also leans Egbuka, cautions against overthinking but likes Dowdle as well.

Dowdle vs. Tetaroa McMillan?

• Same logic: Berry favors McMillan’s talent and safer QB play, but admits it’s close.

Segment Highlights & Quotes

Debating Accountability: Matthew Stafford Sit

(15:13–16:46)

• Jay: “Accountability is like Swahili. [Matthew] doesn’t understand it. Unbelievable.”
• Berry: “I benched the guy…that’s not dodging accountability.”
• The crew rib Berry for couching mistakes in popularity stats, but he owns ranking Drake May and Jayden Daniels above Stafford.

Funniest Personal Moment

• Berry: “Totally understand the phenomenon of settling. That is how I got my wife.” (39:30)

Dr. Denny Carter’s “Flexual Frustrations” (40:00–45:27)

• Jalen Tolbert as a Toy for Dak (w/ CeeDee Lamb out)
  • Denny: “Jalen Tolbert is like AJ Brown compared to most guys. He is a fun toy for Dak Prescott.” (41:35)
• Malik Washington’s PPR Scam Potential
  • Denny: “We’re talking about a potential PPR scam artist in Malik Washington…feel pretty good about starting him in deep leagues.” (42:23)
• Travis Hunter’s Flex Viability
  • Now playing almost exclusively offense; great slot matchup vs. KC this week. “If you fell out of love with Travis Hunter…this actually could be a week where you can put him into your flex spot.” (43:41)

What’s On Tap & Listener Questions

(45:03–49:48)

• Zay Flowers vs. Treveon Henderson

  • All agree: Zay Flowers the better start, especially with likely manufactured touches for a backup QB (45:48)

• Chris Olave vs. Hunter Henry

  • Jay: “Still Chris Olave. I gotta take the guy who’s ranked ahead of A.J. Brown…” (47:20)
  • Denny: Olave’s 27% target rate will eventually pay off—keep rolling with him.

• Flex: Judkins, Woody Marks, Keenan Allen, or TMAC?

  • Jay and Denny: Quinshon Judkins is a volume-locked top-10 RB play this week.
  • TMAC (Ted McMillan) is a high-variance, spike-week option against a weak Miami secondary.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Matthew Berry:
  • On Mac Jones: “He’s averaged over 19 fantasy points per game in his three starts…” (09:54)
  • On waivers: “I think Sean Tucker is the better running back…I’m just calling that shot right now…” (34:00)
• Jay Croucher:
  • On fantasy accountability: “Accountability to Matthew is like Swahili. Just doesn’t understand it.” (15:13)
  • On MacTober: “Brocktober now. We’ve crossed over into Brocktober.” (11:53)
• Dr. Denny Carter:
  • On Malik Washington: “We’re talking about a potential PPR scam artist…we can work with that.” (42:23)
• Fantasy Football Happy Hour Power Rankings
  • Show’s personal jokes and meta-commentary about their regular chat contributors’ top-10 power rankings.

Best Bet Segment: “Pick-Up Lines”

(52:32–55:17)

• Jay’s Pick: Stefon Diggs over 45.5 receiving yards.
  • “The underlying stats... separation scores are great … trending in the right direction health-wise…”
• Connor’s Pick: Tony Pollard under 65.5 rushing yards.
  • “Arizona’s giving up 80 per game to RBs … only Kenneth Walker cleared this number ... feels high for Pollard.”
• Denny’s Choice: Picks Jay's Diggs prop “based on vibes,” but admits both picks are strong.

Rapid Fire Fantasy Advice/Tips

• Rico Dowdle is a must-add and spot start RB2 with Chuba out.
• Matthew Stafford viable in 2-QB leagues; streamable in 1-QB depending on options.
• Malik Washington, Ellijay Manor, Troy Franklin: deep flex/waiver WRs.
• Keep starting Chris Olave and Zay Flowers (even banged-up Bowers).
• Lean talent in coin-flip flex calls.
• No optimism for Baltimore receivers without Lamar.

Final Thoughts

• Great blend of sharp insights and entertaining banter.
• The show is especially strong in actionable flex advice, injury updates, and embracing the chaos that bye weeks bring.
• Berry’s strategic honesty, plus Jay and Connor’s quick-hit banter, make this a must-listen for competitive fantasy football managers.

For more Sunday-specific advice, check out Fantasy Football Pregame Live on Peacock and YouTube at 11am ET. Submit your start/sit questions using #ffpregame!